In Industry 4.0, the concept of total quality management (TQM) has gained more importance because the survival of the organisation depends on better quality management. The objective of this study is to identify TQM critical success factors (CSFs). To achieve this purpose the empirical articles from 1987 to 2019 were studied. The descriptive results are presented such as publication years, journal and sector-wise distribution, and analysis of methods. A quality tool 'Pareto analysis' was applied to identify the critical success factors of TQM practices. The thematic analysis of 91 empirical studies identified the 8 'vital' and 20 'useful many' critical success factors. Based on findings two research contexts need further attention: Industry 4.0 and sustainability. The outcomes of this study contribute to the TQM existing body of knowledge that helps the researchers and practitioners to better understand TQM practices from different perspectives. Copyright © 2022 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.